Classroom Innovations, developed by Making Sense of SCIENCE at WestEd, is designed to support teachers in professional learning communities (PLCs) working to implement next generation classroom practices. Because we believe there is no one-size-fits-all format for this type of collaborative work, we’ve designed this PLC to flex to meet the needs of each unique learning group.

At the core of this protocol are bite-sized innovations that teachers explore in depth and then implement in their own classrooms between PLC sessions. There are several innovations available, each with a different focus that will help teachers learn more about next generation teaching and learning. Innovations can be sequenced in multiple ways.

Innovations include:

  • NGSS Introduction
  • NGSS Implementation
  • Phenomena-based Instruction
  • Productive Classroom Culture
  • Exploratory Discourse
  • Explanatory Discourse
  • Formative Assessment
  • Engineering in the NGSS

Classroom Innovations is part of the Next Generation Science Implementation (NGSI) suite which supports teachers and administrators charged with implementing the Next Generation Science Standards. Visit Making Sense of SCIENCE for more information about the NGSI suite, as well as other professional learning services and resources.

This product contains multiple PDF documents including an eBook, Welcome Activities, Innovation Protocols, and other course resources.